Machine for coating bottle-caps.



F. MEISEL.

MACHINE FOR COATING BOTTLE CAPS.

Patented May 1, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1915. 1,224,768.

may 4 F. MEISEL.

MACHINE FOR COATING BOTTLE CAPS.

APfLlCATiON FILED NOV. 15, 1915.

1,224,768., Patented May 1,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 I aim .Z/EWZZZ)" Ward Witness Q W2 am if; ill i=2 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented May 1, 1917.

F. MEISEL.

MACHINE FOR COATING BOTTLE CAPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l5, 19l5- MNN F. MEISEL.

MACHINE FOR COATING BOTTLE CAPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.15, I915. 1,22&,768@

Patented May 1, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

w fizz-42w Ward F1 ANT FFlfiE...

FRANCIS MEISEL, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, riss'reivon TO MEISEL PRESS & 1VJIA1\TU- .FAC'IURING COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or 1VIASSA- CHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR COATING BOTTLE-CAPS.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS Minsnn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Machine for Coating Bottle-(laps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for making, coating and packaging milk bottle caps or other similar articles formed of paper or other suitable sheet material.

The machine herein described is of the automatic type, in which the caps are formed, coated, and packaged without manipulation or attention on the part of the operator other than the removal of the filled containers. Themachine is designed for cooperation, when desired, with printing mechanism by which the articles to be formed may be previously printed upon one or both sides, this mechanism however forming no part of my present invention.

It is a general object of my invention to improve the construction of machines of the classdescribed, thereby securing increased eiliciency and reliability in operation.

With this general object in view one important feature of my invention relates to the provision of improved devices for delivering, the articles to a conveyer in such manner that they will all be deposited face up upon the conveyer.

A further feature of my invention relates to the provision of improved devices for thoroughly water-proofing the articles upon all sides and edges thereof during their passage "through the machine.

My invention also relates to the provision of simple and efficient mechanism for packaging the articles after the waterproofing operation.

Further features of my'invention relate to certain devices, arrangements, and combina tions of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in'the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a right hand end elevation thereof;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the driving mechanism taken along the line 4L- f in Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

-. Patented May 1, 1917.

Application filed November 15,1915. Serial No. 61,532.

Fig. 5 isa plan view of a portion of the feeding mechanism looking in the direction of the arrowf) inFig. 3-;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the central portion of the machine, on an enlarged scale; s

Fig 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the printed sheet material, Sl1o\\'-- ing the relation of the feed rolls thereto;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the positioning tubes;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged endelevation of the punching and positioning mechanism, look ing in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig. 1

F l0 is a partial sectional elevation of the punching and positioning mechanism,

taken along the line 10 1 .O in 9;

Fig. 11 1s a plan view of certain parts of the positioning mechanism, taken along the line 11- 11 in Fig. 10;. I

Fig. 12 is a plan View of the conveying and transfer mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a partial vertical sectional view of the packaging mechanism, taken along the line 1318 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 14l1fl-. in Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of one of the annular holders and the articleretaining Wires carried thereby.

The mechanism shown in the c 'awings comprises means for feeding a strip of sheet material through the machine, means for punching a plurality of small articles, such as vmilk bottle caps, from the sheet material, means for delivering said articles in Spaced relation to a conveyer, means for coating the articles upon all sides and edges with a suitable waterproofing material, and means for assembling and packaging the articles in suitable containers.

I will first describe the mechanism for feeding the sheet material through the machine. This material is indicated in the drawings by the letter S and passes through the machine in a substantially straight line (Figs. 1 and 6) the Waste material being wound up to form a roll R, in which form it may be conveniently removed and suitably disposed of.

The sheet S upon entering the machine passes between the feed roll 20 (Fig. 6) and a plurality of pressure disks 21 (Fig. 7). The roll 20 is mounted upon a shaft 22 (Fig. 5) supported in hearings in brackets 23 and 24 (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted upon the side frame members 25 and 26. At the outer end of the shaft a ratchet wheel 27 (Fig. 5) is rigidly secured in position for engagement by a pawl 28 pivoted upon a stud 29 carried by a disk 30. The disk 30 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 22 and is provided with a pinion 81 secured thereto and meshing with a vertically movable rack held in engagement with the pinion by means of a guide 33 pivoted to swing about the axis of the shaft 22.

In order to prevent reverse movement of the feed roll 20 as the pawl is moved backward, a friction drum 3-? (Fig. is secured to the shaft 22, the drum being engaged by a friction band 1,5 adj ustably secured to a bar 36 extending between the brackets 23 and 2 1 and forming a portion of the frame of the machine. The friction band is adjusted by means of a wing nut 37 by which the friction upon the drum 234 may be increased or decreased as desired.

1 will now describe the driving mechanism for actuating the vertically movable rack 32, this mechanism being best shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. Power is supplied to the machine through the main driving shaft +10 extending longitudinally of the machine and. supported in hearings -l1 and 42 upon the side frame 25. At its left hand end (as viewed in .Figs. 3 and 41:) the shaft 10 carries a beveled pinion 4L3meshing with a similar pinion 14 on a transverse shaft 15 having hearings in the frame members 25 and 26. A second transverse shaft 16 is also sup ported in hearings in the side frames 25 and 26 and is driven from the shaft s5 through. the spur gears 47, 18, 41:9 and 50.

At its outer end the shaft 16 is provided with a slotted crank arm 51 within which is slidably mounted a crank pin the position of the pin in the slot being controlled by an adjusting screw 53. The lower end of the rack 32 is pivotally connected to the crank pin 52 and the feed roll 20 is thus intermittently actuated to feed the stock S. The length of the feeding stroke may be controlled by adjusting the crank pin upon the slotted crank arm 51.

Referring to Figs. (3 and 7, the pressure disks 21 are mounted in spaced relation upon a shaft 54.- having bearings at its ends in a frame 55 adjust-ably supported by the brackets 23 and 2%. Two of the pressure disks 21 are positioned to engage the 6X treme outer edges of the stock S, while the third disk has very narrow face and is positioned to engage the stock between two of the lines of printed impressions usually placed thereon. As has been stated, the machine herein described is commonly used in connection with printing mechanism by which bottle caps or similar articles may be printed just before they are fed to the punching mechanism. It will be obvious that the use of such printing mechanism is entirely optional, the machine herein described operating in the same way upon either plain or printed stock.

The stock S is fed between the roll 20 and the disks 21 to a second feed roll (Fig. 6) and a cooperating pressure roll 61. The roll is mounted upon a shaft 62 carried by brackets (53 (Fig. 1) and 6 1 (Fig. 3) and is provided at one outer end with a beveled pinion 65 (Fig. 1) meshing with a similar pinion. (56 mounted upon one end of a horizontal shaft (37 supported in bearings in the brackets 63 and 2st. At its left hand endthe shaft (37 carries a pinion (3S meshing with a similar pinion (39 fixed to one end of the feed roll shaft 22. The feed roll shaft 62 is thus positively driven from the feed roll shaft 22 and the rolls 20 and 60 are simultaneously actuated to draw the stock past the punching mechanism.

The pressure roll 61 carried by a frame '70 (Fig. (5) secured to a casting 71 mounted to slide vertically between the brackets 63 and 6. 1- and provided with recesses 7 2 (Fig. 6) within which are positioned cams 73 mounted upon a shaft 7-1. The shaft 74 is rotatable in the brackets 63 and 64: and is provided with a handle 75 (Fig. 1) by which it may be turned to adjust the pressure roll vertically. A clamping screw 76 is provided for securing the shaft in adjusted position.

Similar mechanism is provided for ver: tically adjusting the pressure disks 21, the adjusting handle being indicated at 77 in Fig. 1 and the clamping screw at 78.

After passing the second feed roll 60 the material which is then waste is secured to a drum 80 mounted upon-a shaft 81 rotatable in open-sided bearings in brackets 82 (Fig. 1) and 83 (Fig. 23) mounted on the frame of the machine. The shaft 81 is retained in its bearings by locking pins 8 1 which may be drawn upward to permit convenient removal of the roll R of waste material.

The shaft 81 is provided with a pulley 85 (Fig. 3) which is driven by a belt 86 from a sleeve 87 (Fig i) upon the shaft 16. Between the sleeve and the pulley'the belt engages a guide pulley 88 (Fig. 3) mounted upon an adjustable arm 89 and also a second guide pulley 90 mounted upon an arm 91 loosely pivoted at 92 to the frame 25. A springpressed rod 93 forces the guide pulley 90 against the belt 86, thus providing a yielding driving tension upon the pulley 85. This tension is so adjusted that the belt will slip readily upon the sleeve 87 to permit the intermittent operation of the feeding mechanism.

The mechanism for punching the caps, disks, or other articles D from the sheet material S is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

A plurality of punches 100 are secured by screws 101 in the lower end of the head 102. The head 102 is mounted to slide vertically in ways 103 on the rigid punch frame 104, supported on the side frames 25 and 26. Connecting links 105 are pivoted at their lower ends to the head 102 and at their upper ends to a crank pin 106 formed on the crank shaft 107 rotatable in hearings in the frame 104. The crank shaft 107 is driven from the shaft 46 (Fig. 4) through a train of gears 108, 109 110, 111 and 112 (Fig. The shaft 107 is provided with the usual fly wheel after reversing its position.

113 to insure steadiness of operation.

The punches (Fig. 10) are provided with a stripper plate114 guided by studs 115 slidable in the head 102. Springs 116 are positioned between the stripper plate and the head to yieldingly force the plate downward to strip the stock from the punches in the usual manner.

The disks or other articles punched from the stock S fall through the die plate 117 into positioning tubes 118 mounted in said guide plate. Upon one side of each tube 118 there is provided a ledge 119 which engages one edge ofthe disk as it falls through the guide plate, and causes the opposite edge of the disk to swing downward as indicated in Fig. 10. The ledge is continued downward throughout the tube thus narrowing the tube on one diameter thereof and preventing the disk from there- The tube is also narrowed upon the opposite side by an inclined partition 120, the lower edge of the disk being thereby guided to a slot 121 in the lower end of the tube.

An opening 122 (Figs. 6 and 8) is formed in the tube just below the slot 121. A sliding plate 123 (Fig. 11), provided with arms 124 adapted to extend into the openings 122 of the several tubes 1.18, is slidably mounted to carry said arms into and out of position to intercept the disks D in their passage through the tubes. The slide 123 is provided with studs 125 (Fig. 11) by which the slide is pivotally connected to the lower ends of levers 126 pivoted at 127 to brackets 128 mounted on the die plate At their upper ends the levers 126 are provided with rolls 129 positioned in cam slots 130 formed in plates 131 mounted on the head 102. The slots 130 are so formed that the arms 124 will be pushed into the positioning tubes as the punches deseend and thus intercept the newly formed disks D as they fall through the tubes. As the head 102 returns to its upper position the arms 124 are withdrawn and the disks are simultaneously released from the tubes.

The object of thus alternately trapping and releasing .the disks is to present the disks simultaneously to the constantly moving conveyer belt C so that they may be definitely and accurately spaced thereon. In order to assist the passage of the released disks to the conveyer 0, rolls 132 (Figs. 10 and 11) are mounted on shafts 133 and 134. The rolls project through slots in the lower ends of the positioning tubes in position to engage the disks as they are released by the arms 124 and to assist their passage to the conveyer.

The shafts 133 and 134 are mounted in the plate 135 which supports the slide 123,

the plate 135 being supported from the frame 104. The shaft 133 is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel 136 (Figs. 11 and 12) which is driven by a chain 133 from a sprocket 139 mounted upon a shaft 140. The roll shaft 134 (Fig. 11) is connected to the shaft 133 by sprockets 141 and 142 and a chain 143.

The shaft is rotatable in bearings in the frames 25 and 26 and is provided at one end with a beveled pinion 144 (Fig. 1) meshing with a similar pinion 145 mounted upon an inclined shaft 146 supported in bearings upon the frame 26. At its lower end the shaft 146 carries a beveled gear 147 meshing with a beveled pinion 148 se cured to one end of the shaft 46 (Fig. 4). The shafts 133 and 134 are continuously driven from the shaft 46 through the c011- nections described.

The mechanism for conveying the disks or other articles through the coating device consists essentially of a belt conveyer or apron C (Figs. 6 and 12) mounted upon three conveyer rolls 150, 151 and 152. The roll 150 is mounted upon the shaft 140 previously described and is driven thereby. The roll 151 is mounted upon a shaft 153 (Fig. 12) supported in suitable bearings in the side frames 25 and 26.

The roll 152 (Fig. 6) is rotatably mounted in the ends of arms 154 secured to a shaft 155 supported in bearings in the side frames 25 and 26. An additional arm 156 (Figs. 3 and 6) is mounted on the shaft 155 and is pivotally connected at its outer end to a spring-pressed rod 157. The roll 152 is thus swung outwardly against the con.- yeyer C and provides yielding tension there- The conveyer C, as shown in section in Fig. 9, is formed of a strip of felt or feltlike material and is provided with a leather binding at each edge thereof. The conveyer rolls are grooved as shown in Fig. 12 to provide for the increase in thickness at the edges, due to the leather bindings.

The conveyer C in its travel from the roll 150 to the roll 151 passes between the fountain roll 160 (Fig. 6) and the pressure roll 161 co6perating therewith. The fountain roll is mounted upon a shaft 162 (Figs. 1 and 6) rotatable in hearings in the side .fountain roll 160.

frame members and provided with a spur gear 163 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) meshing with a similar gear 16% fixed to the shaft 165 which supports the pressure roll 161.

The fountain roll is positioned above a fountain or tank 166 suitably supported in the frame and adapted to contain a bath of paral'lin or other similar material. Steam pipes 167 eXtend through the tank 166 and maintain the paraflin in melted condition. The lower portion of the fountain roll 160 dips into the loath of melted paraffin and a stripper 168 (Fig, 6) removes the surplus material therefrom, a thumb screw 169 providing means for adjusting said stripper.

The tank 166 and the lower portions of the conveying mechanism are all contained Within ajacket or casing 170 (Fig. 6) provided with suitable doors 171 and 172 (Fig. 1) by which access to the interior may be obtained. A plurality of steam pipes 173 are positioned between the casing and the lower runs of the belt conveyor and additional steam pipes 174 are disposed beneath the conveyor between the roll 150 and the fountain roll 160.

The pressure roll 161 is provided with a coating 175 of felt or similar material, said coating as well as the belt conveyer being thoroughly saturated by the paraffin supplied tothe under side of the belt by the The steam pipes 173 and 17 1. maintain the conveyor belt at all times in heated condition, thus assisting the para'llin to pass readily therethrough and preventing it from hardening upon the belt. A steam pipe 176 (Fig. 6) extending within the roll 161 likewise maintains the pressure roll in heated condition.

The shaft 165 of the roll 161 is rotatably mounted in a frame 177 (Fig. 6) which is yieldingly pressed downward by springs 178. Downward movement of the frame and roll is limited by engagement with an eccentric stop 179 mounted upon a shaft 180 and adjustable by means of a handle 181 (Fig. 1).

The rolls 160 and 161 are driven from the conveyer roll 150 by driving connections which include a beveled pinion 182 (Fig. 1.2) meshing with the pinion 14:4: (previously described) upon the shaft 140. The pinion 182 is mounted upon an inclined shaft 183 (Figs. 1 and 12) carried in bearings on the side frame 26 and having at its opposite end a beveled pinion 184 meshing with a pinion 185 upon the shaft 165.

The disks formed by the-punching mechanism and deposited upon the conveyer belt through the positioning tubes 118 are carried by the. belt between the fountain roll 160 and the pressure roll 161, during which passage they are practically embedded in the soft surfaces of the conveyer C and the covering 175 of the pressure roll. As the belt and the roll covering are both saturated with melted paraflin the disks are thoroughly coated not only upon both sides but also upon their edges with the waterproofing material.

After passing the fountain rollthe disks are carried under a series of separated conveyer tapes (Figs. 6 and 12). .The tapes 190 are supported at the left hand end of their path of travel upon a series of small pulleys 191 mounted in spaced relation upon a shaft 192 having its bearings in the side frame members 25 and 26 and provided at one end with a sprocket wheel 193 (Fig. 12). A chain 194: connects the sprocket wheel .193 to a driving sprocket wheel 195 mounted upon a shaft 196 having its bearings in the side frame members and provided with a spur gear 197 meshing with a similar gear 198 upon a shaft 199 also supported in hearings in the side frame members and having a beveled pinion 200 secured to its outer end. The pinion 200 meshes with a beveled gear 201 carried by an inclined shaft 202 (Fig. 1) mounted in bearings on the side frame member 26 and. provided with a beveled pinion 203 meshing with the beveled pinion 1S5 previously described. the shaft 192 and the tape pulleys 191 are positively and contimiously driven.

At the right hand end of their path of travel the tapes 190 are supported upon pulleys 205 (Figs. 6 and 12) each carried by an arm 206 independently adjustable upon a rod 207 fixed to the side frame members. Intermediate the pulleys 191 and 205 the tapes pass over and under guide pulleys 208 mounted on the shaft 196 previously described. These guide pulleys maintain the tapesin close driving engagement with a second series of separated conveyer tapes 210 (Fig. 6) driven by pulleys 211 secured to the shaft 199 previously described.

The tapes 210 travel above a supporting plate 212 (Fig. 6) and around additional guiding pulleys 213 and 214. The pulleys 213 are mounted in spaced relation upon a shaft 215 (Fig. 12) supported in bearings in the side frame members.

The pulleys 214; are mounted in separate arms 216 (Fig. 6) independently adjustable upon a rod 217 fixed to the frame members, said pulleys 214 providing means for tight ening the tapes 210. The disks deposited upon the belt conveyer C, after passing the coating rolls, are engaged near their opposite edges by the tapes 190 and are carried along thereby off of the conveyer C and into engagement with the tapes 210.

A small roller 220 (Fig. 6) is interposed between the roll 151 and the guidepulleys 211 to support the disks during their passage from the conveyer C to the tapes 210.

Through the connection described- The'disks are then carried along between the tapes 190 and 210 until they are adjacent to the packaging mechanism (to be described) mto which they are carried by the tapes 210.

The packaging mechanism is designed for assembling the coated disks D within cylindrlcal containers or tubes T. The lower end of each tube T is received within an annular holder 221 (Fig. 15) supported by a holder frame 222 (Figs. 12 and 13) mounted to slide vertically on ways 223 (Fig. 2) formed on the side frame members 25 and 26.

The frame 222 is located in its lower or operative position by spring pressed pins 224 (Fig. 2) extending through the side frame members into recesses in the ends of the frame 222. Levers 225 are provided for withdrawing the locking pins 224 and handles 226 are secured to the frame 222 by means of which the frame may be readily lifted after the locking pins are withdrawn. When the locking pins are then released they project beneath the frame to maintain the frame and holders in raised or inoperative position.

The lower end of each tube T rests upon a shoulder 227 (Fig. 13) within the holder 221 and the upper ends of the tubes T are positioned between lugs 228 (Fig. 6) pro jecting downward from a plate 229 supported upon sleeves 230 arranged to slide vertically on rods 231 mounted upon the holder frame 222. Thumb screws 232 provide means for retaining the plate 229 in adjusted vertical position.

The disks D are forced upwardly into the tubes T by means of reciprocating plungers 235 (Figs. 2, 13 and 14). The plungers 235 are secured to the upper ends of rods 236, said rods being adjustably mounted in spaced relation upon a plunger frame 237 (Figs. 2 and 6) slidable in ways 238 formed upon the inner faces of the side frame members 25 and 26. At their upper ends the plungers 235 pass through recesses in a fixed guide plate 239 (Fig. 13), the shape of the plungers being best shown in Fig. 14, the plunger being of substantially rectangular shape, and thus adapted to pass upward between adjacent tapes 210 into engagement with a disk D carried thereby.

The mechanism for vertically reciprocating the plunger frame 237 comprises'a toggle link 240 (Figs. 2 and 6) and a toggle arm 241, the arm 241 being fixed to a shaft 242 pivoted in the side frame members and provided with an actuating arm 243 (Fig. 6) connected by a rod 244 to a swinging arm 245 pivoted at 246 in the side frame 26. The arm 245 is actuated by a member 247, the opposite end of said member being forked to engage the shaft 46 and being provided with a cam roll 248, positioned in a groove in a face cam 249 fixed to the shaft 46. By these connections th pl ger pl t 237 is intermittently raised in suitable timed relation with the other operating parts of the machine.

For retaining the disks D in their raised position, after they have been forced upward into the tubes T by the plungers 235, I provide each tube holder 221 (Figs. 13, 14 and 15) with a plurality of spring retaining wires 250. The wires 250 for each holder are carried by a collar 251 secured to the holder 221. The lower ends of the wires 250 extend through slots 252 in the wall of the holder 221 and the free inner ends of the wires are bent upward and are positioned within the path of the upwardly moving disks D.

As the disk moves upward the wires are forced yieldingly outward and after the passage of the disk they immediately resume the positions shown in Fig. 13, supporting the disks D within the tubes T during the downward movement of the plungers. The holders 221 are longitudinally slotted along one side, as indicated at 253 in Figs. 14 and 15, these slots permitting the operator to insert his finger beneath the disks as he withdraws a full tube T from its holder 221.

To prevent the disks from being carried by the tapes 210 beyond the plungers 235, a stop plate 254 (Figs. 2 and 14) is secured to the underside of the holder frame 222 in position to stop the disks directly beneath their respective tubes. The plate 254 positions thedisks for the series of tubes shown at the extreme right in Fig. 12 and similar separate stop plates 255 (Fig. 12) are provided for'positioning the disks beneath the left hand series of tubes.

The operation of my improved machine has been indicated in connection with the detail and description of the several parts of the mechanism but may be briefly summarized as follows:

The stock is fed into the machine by the feed rolls 20 and 60 and the disks are punched therefrom by the punches 100, held in suitable spaced relation in the punch head 102. In order that the disks may be deposited upon the belt conveyer C in the same relation in which they were punched, they are trapped at the lower ends of the positioning tubes and are simultaneously released therefrom. In this way the disks are deposited upon the conveyor face up and in the desired spaced relation.

They then pass between the coating rolls 160 and 161 and are transferred to the tapes 190 and 210 without change in their relative position. During their transfer by the tapes 190 and 210 the disks are supported by their edges only and while thus supported are carried beneath the tubes T and over the plungers 235. Should the disks become slightly displaced during their travel through the machine they will be accurately positioned over the plunger-s by the stop plate 254: and the separate stops 255.

After the disks are thus positioned the plungers rise to force the disks upward into the tubes T. These tubes are commonly formed of pasteboard and suitable provision is made for closing the ends of the tubes after they have been filled with disks or caps. After a set of tubes have been filled the top plate 229 is raised and the tubes may be separately removed with the disks contained therein.

I have shown my improved machine as embodying a punching mechanism for supplying the disks or caps to the coating and packaging devices. It will be understood that the latter devices are not limited to use in connection with the punching mechanism shown and I consider it within the scope of my invention to provide other forms of supplying or feeding mechanism for use in connection with the coating and packaging devices herein shown. It is also to be understood that the word disk or cap as herein used is intended to indicate any article formed of sheet material of suitable size and outline for treatment in this machine, and it is not limited specifically to caps for closing milk bottles.

Having thus described my invention, it will be evident that changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the claims and I do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details herein disclosed, but

lVhat I claim is 1. In a machine for water-proofing articles of sheet material, a belt conveyer of permeable felt-like material, guide rolls supporting said conveyor with a substantially straight operative run, means to deposit articles of sheet material thereon, and a pair of pressure rolls engaging said conveyer in said straight run intermediate said guide rolls, the upper roll being felt-covered and heated, and engaging the upper face of said conveyer, and the lower roll engaging and supplying heated water-proofing material to the underside of said conveyer, said water-proofing material permeating said conveyer and felt covering and thereby coating said articles on all sides as they pass with the conveyer between said pres sure rolls.

2. In a machine for water-proofing articles of sheet material, a belt conveyer of permeable felt-like material, guide rolls supporting said conveyer with a substantially straight operative run, means to heat said conveyor at the beginning of said straight run, means to deposit articles of sheet material thereon at said heated portion, a pair of pressure rolls engaging said conveyer in said straight run intermediate said guide rolls and beyond said heating means, the upper roll being felt-covered and heated, and engaging the upper face of said conveyer, and the lower roll engaging and supplying heated water-proofing material to the underside of said conveyor, said. water proofing material permeating said conveyor and felt covering, and thereby coating said articles on all'sides as they pass with the conveyor between said pressure rolls, means to remove said articles from said conveyor as they approach the end of said straight run, and means to positively rotate one of said guiding rolls and both of said pressure rolls.

3. In a machine for water-proofing articles of sheet material, the combination of a belt conveyer formed of felt-like material and having its edges reinforced with leather strips, guide rolls supporting said conveyer and grooved to accommodate said strips, means to deposit articles of sheet material on said conveyer, and means to coat said articles with water-proofing material while on said conveyor, said conveyer forming an effective part of said coating means.

4L. In a machine for water-proofing articles of sheet material, a belt conveyer of a width suflicient to support a plurality of said articles in lateral spaced relation, means to deposit said articles on said conveyer, means to coat said articles with water-proofing material while on said conveyer, said coating means including said conveyor as an effective part thereof, a second conveyor comprising aplurality of narrow parallel tapes spaced apart by less than the diameter of said articles, said conveyers being longitudinally adjacent, and a third conveyer comprising a plurality of narrow spaced parallel tapes overlying the tapes of said two conveyers for a portion of their length and also overlying a portion of said belt conveyor, whereby said articles may be removed from said belt conveyor and may be supported by their edges onthe spaced tapes of said second conveyer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANCIS MEISEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

